<p>I would offer to chance you back, but I'm new and will probably give you the wrong answer. :) </p>
<p>State: TX
GPA: 3.9 unweighted, 4.3 weighted
Rank: 22 out of 441
SAT: 2110
PSAT: 221- National Merit Scholar Semifinalist
ACT: 33
APs: World History-4 APUSH-5 APLang-5 (currently in AP Euro, AP Calc AB, APLit, and AP US GoV)
EC's: -4 years in audition only theatre productions class, President of this class
-3 years National Honor Society
-3 years Mu Alpha Theta
-founded school's online newspaper
-Senior Editor-in-Chief of newspaper
-President of International Thespian Society (theatre club) and founding member
-3 years church volunteer in the children's ministry
-2 years Vacation Bible School volunteer
-3 years volunteering at my school's drama camp for young children
-4 years volunteering at my local community theatre
-volunteered with Back to School community fair
-4 years performing charity shows for the Boys and Girls Club</p>
<p>Awards:
-National Merit Semifinalist
-National Hispanic Recognition Scholar
-AP Scholar
-6 year Lantern of Knowledge recipient (an award given for GPA=4.0+ weighted)
-International Honor Thespian (given for 180+ hours theatre work)
-QuestBridge Finalist</p>
<p>I'm also a first generation college student and I'm Hispanic. I want to go into online journalism, as I'm a total hidden computer nerd and I've had a passion for writing ever since I picked up a pencil. I'm definitely going to need some significant financial aid-- NYU is somewhat of an "let's see if I can get in" application. I could never afford it. </p>
<p>Well you know you’re automatically in at UT, right? I also say you’re in at Mizzou, SMU and Baylor. </p>
<p>What is your breakdown on your SAT and are you taking any SAT IIs?</p>
<p>If you can’t afford NYU, then are Princeton and Northwestern also just to see if you can get in? Because they’re just as expensive, but I’m not as familiar as other board members with their financial aid practices so maybe something can work out there. </p>
<p>My take on those three: Princeton - reach, NYU and Northwestern - low to moderate reach.</p>
<p>Thanks for chancing meeee. My SAT breakdown is a 730 critical reading, 650 math, and 730 writing. I’m taking it for the third time in November. I’m taking the literature, US history, and math 1 SAT 2 in December. </p>
<p>About Princeton and Northwestern-- I have a friend who attends Princeton who told me that the financial aid is terrific- her and her mom’s financial situation is similar to mine and she is attending Princeton for less than UT would cost. Northwestern is probably only going to work out if I can get money through QuestBridge.</p>
<p>I don’t think NYU is a reach for you at all. I honestly don’t think NYU is THAT hard to get in to, haha. But thats just my opinion. (and why even waste the money on the application)</p>
<p>You seem like a solid applicant, I’d say you are probably in to all, maybe not at Princeton or NU, its kind of up in the air. If you have stellar essays, I dont see why not. I think Princeton usually gives pretty good aid? Not too sure though</p>
<p>@vbplayer I’m spending the money to apply because NYU was always the dream school for me throughout high school. Although my career intentions have changed, NYU still has a solid program and I would really regret it if I didn’t even try to get in. </p>
<p>Personally, I think my essays are great-but I’m a little biased. :)</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure you could qualify for application fee waivers at most if not all of the schools. As a finalist do you get to use QuestBridge’s free applications?</p>
<p>@sundoll Yep! But only for NU and Princeton. Those were the only partner schools that I was interested in attending. And I’m not sure about the fee waivers–I’ve never tried to get one for the SAT and there are many people at my school who are far more economically disadvantaged than I am–does that play a part in getting a fee waiver?</p>
<p>I honestly don’t know what the factors are for granting a waiver, and I’m sure they vary by school. My fee was waived as a transfer to UT simply by submitting my financial aid transcript to them, and I’m sure there are a lot of applicants who were more disadvantaged than I am. I think for freshman applicants most schools have a form that gets completed by staff at your high school who are in a position to verify your financial situation. Might be worth checking on, could save you some cash.</p>
<p>Would you guys have any info on my likelihood of getting financial aid? My mom’s perspective is “Well, you’re awesome, I’m not worried about you getting in colleges, I’m worried about how we can pay for them.” She makes $35,000 a year, but gets $9600 in child support a year. My dad’s income is $100,000 plus, so I think filing the CSS Profile is going to ruin me. :P</p>
<p>You and your mom can work through it to determine your EFC - estimated financial contribution. This number is used to determine how much of your own education costs you should be responsible for, amount eligible for Pell grants, etc. It’s the same information you’ll submit with your official FAFSA in the spring to determine your aid for Fall 2010 when you start school. It’s a good way to see what you might be able to qualify for, narrow down the schools that you get accepted to by how much aid they will give and if there is a gap that you would need to cover. But keep in mind it’s just an estimate for now.</p>
My SAT breakdown is a 730 critical reading, 650 math, and 730 writing. I’m taking it for the third time in November. I’m taking the literature, US history, and math 1 SAT 2 in December. </p>